Cumani’s Melbourne Cup Castoffs in Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2011 Field

This Saturday two European stablemates from the stables of Luca Cumani who missed a start in the 2011 Melbourne Cup, gallant great Bauer and former Chilean galloper Sahara Sun, will get a chance to hand their connections a minor consolation prize by winning the $250,000 Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).

Bauer headlines the 2011 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field on Emirates Stakes Day

One of four Group races on a bumper Emirates Stakes Day program at Flemington on Saturday, the 2011 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field features 13 stayers lead by 2008 Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer.

A crowd favourite, Bauer has had two luckless runs in Australia this season most recently finishing third to subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden in the Geelong Cup on October 19.

Bauer just missed their second shot at Melbourne Cup glory, having been defeated a nose by Viewed back in 2008 which was until yesterday the closest Melbourne Cup result in recent history, having sat 25th on the order of entry at final acceptance stage.

In a bitter blow Bauer could have in fact gained a start on Tuesday were the race allowed emergencies as the Lloyd Williams-owned Mourayan was scratched on the morning of the Cup.

Cumani was still dually represented in the 2011 Melbourne Cup with Manighar finishing a brave fifth and Drunken Sailor further back in 12th, both horses reported to have pulled through the ‘race that stops a nation’ in good order.

He will look to see the Melbourne Cup Carnival out on a high note with Bauer well positioned in barrier five for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but a jockey to be confirmed as Damien Oliver serves a suspension.

Bauer will be joined by their stablemate Sahara Sun in the Queen Elizabeth, the horse that was withdrawn from Melbourne Cup calculations after their disappointing eighth in the Bendigo Cup.

Sahara Sun, former runner-up in the Chilean Derby, is due to jump from barrier 10 with Dwayne Dunn engaged.

Other Melbourne Cup rejects that will seek an Emirates Stakes Day victory on Saturday in the Queen Elizabeth include Peter Moody’s Zabeel gelding Macedonian who ran an eye-catching second to Niwot in The Lexus Stakes, the David Hayes-trained Tactic, Sydney raider Ironstein and Queensland visitor Anudjawun who ran third in the Lexus.

The full Queen Elizabeth Stakes field and barrier draw can be found below, the race due to jump at 4:30pm Melbourne time on Saturday.

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